The Al Franken Podcast Jonathan Alter on Trump’s Authoritarian Police State
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Aug 3, 2025 
Join journalist and best-selling author Jonathan Alter as he discusses the alarming rise of authoritarianism in Trump’s America. He reveals how recent funding for ICE could create a police state and critiques the redistricting efforts in Texas. Despite the grim landscape, Alter promotes hope in citizen activism and believes Democrats can reclaim the House in the upcoming midterms. He also touches on the ethical dilemmas surrounding immigration policies and the political pressures faced by universities and law firms.
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ICE Funding Fuels Police State
- $75 billion authorized for ICE will make it bigger than all other federal law enforcement agencies combined.
- Quotas force ICE to increase arrests, creating a police state dynamic.
Early Warning Against ICE Raids
- Use early warning systems via smartphones to alert undocumented workers about ICE raids.
- Don't open the door without verifying identity as ICE does not have search warrants for misdemeanors.
People Power Can Reverse Autocracy
- People power has historically reversed autocracy and dictatorship in many countries.
- Large protests like the No Kings day have created movements that sustain democratic resistance.
